The Theological University of Apeldoorn is the Dutch theological university of the Christian Reformed Churches. More than 130 students study at the university in Apeldoorn. The theological course lasts six years. The student is in the bachelor's program for the first three years. This has a more orientating character, and includes the languages Classic Greek and Koine Greek, Latin and Biblical Hebrew. In the three-year master's program that follows, further studies and specialization are discussed. The training is specifically aimed at educating pastors. Furthermore, one tries to keep together the reformed character of the faith and the church and the scientific level of the university. The syllabus consists of subjects such as ethics, apologetics, Old and New Testament, canonical studies, dogmatics, church history, church law and civil subjects. Although the university is mainly a preacher training for the Christian ReformedChurches, a minority of them become preachers or preachers within this church federation. In addition to students from the Netherlands, there are also students from outside the Netherlands, especially from Korea, Indonesia and other countries in Asia. There is also close contact and cooperation with the university of the Reformed Churches in Kampen. By integrating their research programs, the theological universities of Apeldoorn and Kampen are able to present a combined tradition of more than two centuries of classical theology. Their research program is a daring initiative to combine two fields of research that are all too often kept strictly separated: Biblical Exegesis and Systematic Theology. The university is one of the few universities in the Netherlands where truly reformed theology is being taught.
At the first Synod of the Christian Reformed Churches in 1894 eight congregations were represented. This synod has opened a Theological Seminary in The Hague.
In 1919 the university moved to Apeldoorn.
Since 1968 the university has been open to those who do not seek training for the ministry in the Christian Reformed Churches of the Netherlands, but who have a desire to study theology for other aims.
During the last two decades many international contacts with the university have been established and are still increasing. As a result, every year some students from outside the Netherlands study in TUA.
Since 1980 the university has been allowed to grant a doctor's degree in theology.
